Sparkling Gourami...

I crush the flake into teeny pieces, I've fed them twice a day since I got them about 10 days ago. Tried the tip you suggested, the lil silly thing still didn't budge.Oh, and I noticed that one of my Gourami's has had part of its tail bitten off!!!

Aye, they'll fight. Can you post a photo of the setup? Might help with an idea..

Have you put food close to where it is, as well as in other parts of the tank?

Yes. It just swims away and watches the others snaffle it up without so much as a fight!

Kitty Kat said:

Aye, they'll fight. Can you post a photo of the setup? Might help with an idea..

Have you put food close to where it is, as well as in other parts of the tank?

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Definitely more plants will help! I am trimming mine down nowish, so can sell you some of those if you like.. but even if you don't, I can come up with a list of easy ones you could try. Just need to know what sort of light you have and the dimensions of the tank

Don't plants interfere with water parameters etc etc?

My tank is 60'30'30cm.

Not sure re light but it lights the tank well!

Kitty Kat said:

Definitely more plants will help! I am trimming mine down nowish, so can sell you some of those if you like.. but even if you don't, I can come up with a list of easy ones you could try. Just need to know what sort of light you have and the dimensions of the tank

Click to expand...

Well, they might influence them long term, but if anything, in a good way for you Generally they use up some of the nitrates and very slightly lower the pH. In practice it is more complicated, of course, but not harmful to your fish.

The wattage of the light bulb effects which plants will do well, and which won't

No idea of wattage, sorry.

Kitty Kat said:

Well, they might influence them long term, but if anything, in a good way for you Generally they use up some of the nitrates and very slightly lower the pH. In practice it is more complicated, of course, but not harmful to your fish.

The wattage of the light bulb effects which plants will do well, and which won't

Click to expand...

I second Katty's suggestion about feeding. I always submerge my fingers and slightly grind the flake food underwater for cardinals and neons (and harlequins and other mid-feeders) so that a little flurry of food swirls down in their faces. Once my tank is cycled I worry a little less about the overfeeding aspect and would make a little more sure that a few of those flakes were presented to the straggling cardinal. I agree with the analysis so far, the 6 cards (understand that you've done the right thing) is still going to feel sparse to the cardinals themselves (their "normal/natural" shoal size is hundreds or thousands) and they are used to heavier plant cover (and/or they often get darker tannin/shaded waters in natural habitats)... but all this is just discussion for the back of your mind as is truth you just have a little one who you must hope will hang on and get better - I've had ones like that and they can indeed be pretty tough and will often make it through just fine. WD

Peter has taken over the feeding duties, purely because he likes getting his fingers nibbled..... i kid ye not. The little one is still alive so I presume it is coping ok!

Say, next time you're around and the light is off, take a look at the bulb, it should say the wattage on it